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The Mcigic Window 

A Story for Boys and Girls from 
Six to Twelve 


BY 

ZELIA M. WALTERS 



C I N C I N NAT I 

THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANY 


Copyright, 1915 

The Standard Publishing Company 





SEP 21 1915 


©CI.A411622 

ten / 






CONTENTS 


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Introduction 7 

L 

Gregory Finds a Window 9 

11 . 

A Gift and a Duty for Gregory 19 

III. 

Gregory Journeys Alone 29 

IV. 

A Pursuit and Escape 40 

V. 

Gregory Finds the Fairy Gift 49 


# 






ILLUSTRATIONS 


FACING PAGE 


^With SO much room to grow things, no 
go hungry” 


one must 
.Frontispiece ^ 


"‘Why, it tastes like broth,” he said, ‘"and it is 
very good” 16 

^‘You’ll take good care of him, won’t you?” said . 
Mary 25 

He could see the towers of his home rising among 
the trees 38 


A little later Stephen stopped and raised his hand 
for silence. Gregory stood motionless 



5 



INTRODUCTION 


Do you like to read a story of magic? A 
story where things happen the way you would 
have them if only wishes could come true? 
The boy in this story was sick and unpleasant, 
unhappy and unloved. He lived in a dark, 
gloomy castle, filled with careless servants 
and false friends. But one day he looked 
through a long-closed window and found a 
bit of magic. He learned that a fairy gift 
had once been given him, and he set out to 
find it. And the magic grew and spread, as 
all good magic does, until it changed the boy 
and the castle and the countryside. 

And there’s a secret too. The magic does 
not belong all to the old fairy days. There is 
a great deal of it in the world now, and you 
can find a bit for yourself, so that you, too, 
can find good fortune. See if you can learn 
how from the story. 


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Gregory Finds a Window. 

''I know it’s a window, and they’ve 
covered it up,” said Gregory, talking aloud 
to himself. ‘‘Now, why wouldn’t they 
want me to see it? They’re always hiding 
pleasant things from me.” An ugly frown 
twisted the boy’s face. “I’ll tear the boards 
off and look. And if any one is cross 
about it I’ll stamp my foot and scream, as 
I did to make them bring me down here. 
I never knew they had to do as I say until 
that day I listened, when old John thought 
I was asleep. Now I’ll have things when- 
ever I think of something I want.” 

As he talked, the boy’s thin hands 
were at work at some small boards nailed 
across a space in the wall. He had not 
occupied this room very long. Ever since 
he could remember, his room had been at 
the top of the winding stair, where his 
windows looked out over the green wood 
that lay beyond the castle walls. But one 
night he had awakened in a storm, and all 
the tossing boughs seen in the fitful moon- 


10 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


light seemed to be legions of wild crea- 
tures that were struggling to get in at him, 
and the rising noises of the storm seemed 
the roaring of dreadful voices. He had 
looked out for a moment in fascinated ter- 
ror at the spectacle. Then he had shrieked 
until his attendants came, and demanded 
that they carry him downstairs away from 
the threat of the storm. 

Poor Gregory, with his frail body, was 
lord of a great estate, but he had not yet 
found one loving heart in the bit of the 
world that he knew. A stern, conscientious 
uncle administered the estate and saw to it 
that the boy was properly cared for. But he 
wasted no affection on the petulant boy. 
Had Gregory been a fine, brave boy, a credit 
to the family name, it might have been dif- 
ferent. 

There were two windows in Gregory’s 
room. They appeared tiny, set in the thick, 
stone wall, and they looked out upon the 
bare castle yard. This space that he was 
trying to open was on another side. Per- 
haps it would show something more inter- 
esting. From one of the windows upstairs 
he sometimes looked out upon a distant bit 
of the winding road that led to town. When 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


11 


he was not too tired to climb up there, that 
was worth seeing. He guessed where the 
travelers were going, the horsemen, the 
knights, the farmers, the ladies; and some- 
times even boys and girls as young as he 
rode with some party. 

If this covered place should be a win- 
dow that looked upon the road, and close 
at hand, how glad he would be! He pulled 
with all his might, but could not move the 
boards. He dragged down a sword from 
the wall, and pried at them with that. In 
his eagerness, he exerted himself more in 
that half-hour than he had for a week 
past. The boards loosened at one end and 
he pulled them down in wild haste. It was 
a window, but to his disappointment the 
first things he saw were waving branches. 
Then the glow of firelight shone in his 
eyes. Next he saw a white scrubbed table, 
and the shine of pewter dishes hanging on 
a wall. He was looking straight into the 
living-room of a small cottage, and into the 
trees he had seen through the open cottage 
door, which was just opposite where he was 
looking in. The room was empty, and he 
took an astonished look about. Something 
was cooking in the pot hung over the fire, 


12 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


and oh, how good it smelled! But why did 
his window open into a cottage? A chill 
of fear crept over him. It was witchcraft, 
of course. Some witch had made her cot- 
tage appear next his window, and in the 
night she would come and get him. He 
plumped down in his chair, and watched the 
opening above anxiously. Nothing happened, 
and, after awhile, curiosity overcame fear. 
He stood up, and peeped in again, very cau- 
tiously. This time the cottage was not 
empty. A woman sat before the fire knitting 
quietly. Gregory’s heart gave a great bound 
of relief. He need not fear witches here. 
It made him feel better just to look at that 
beautiful face with its crown of snow-white 
hair. 

‘Tt’s a fairy godmother !” breathed Greg- 
ory, softly. 

Perhaps she heard him, for she looked up 
quickly. At first her eyes were dark and 
sorrowful, but, as she looked, a light grew in 
them, and he knew she was smiling. 

“Bless the child!” she said. 

“Thank you, madam,” said Gregory, who 
could be very polite when no one crossed 
him. “I hope you will excuse me. I didn’t 
know my window looked into your house, or 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


13 


I should not have pulled it open. Perhaps I 
can put the boards back.’’ 

She had come close to the window now. 
''Suppose you leave it open,” she said. "Then 
you and I can be neighbors. I am some- 
times lonely; are you?” 

"Oh, very lonely!” cried Gregory. "I 
used to watch the road, and guess where 
the people were going. But I hated the 
trees so I made them bring me down, and 
now I can’t see anything. Old John would 
stay with me, but I won’t let him. I always 
want to throw the footstool at him, and I 
suppose that is wrong,” he added virtuously. 

"Very wrong,” said the woman, quietly. 

Gregory threw up his head angrily. Peo- 
ple should not tell him he was wrong, es- 
pecially common people who lived in little 
cottages, and knitted stockings. But the 
woman was not even looking at him. She 
was counting some stitches carefully, and 
after a moment of sulky silence he said, 
"Most likely you can go out for a walk when 
you are lonely.” 

"Yes,” she said briskly, "I do. Would 
you like to go with me?” 

"Oh, I can’t!” said Gregory. 

"Why not? I’m going to see Mistress 


14 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


Hope presently. There are six children, and 
a baby. The socks are for the baby. And 
there are two dogs and a donkey and some 
kittens and a calf. You would have great 
fun there.’’ 

‘Tt’s my legs,” said Gregory. 'When I 
walk they shake and tremble. I haven’t been 
outdoors for over a year. I’m not strong 
at all.” 

He said it as though he thought it a dis- 
tinction. But the woman did not say, "Poor 
child!” She looked straight at him, and 
said: "That is a great pity. The little Hope 
children are far better off than you. They 
have straight, strong legs, and can run and 
be happy from morning until night. And 
they know quantities of things that you do 
not — all about the woods, and the wild things 
that live there, and what the wind says, and 
when the flowers come.” 

"They are not better off than I,” cried 
Gregory, hotly. "I am very rich, and I am 
a lord, and every one must do as I say.” 

The woman shook her head slowly, and 
Gregory had a baffled sense that she not 
only did not agree with him, but that she 
thought him very foolish. She knitted, and 
hummed a little song. Gregory could just 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


15 


hear the words, and he strained his ears not 
to miss one. 

“What does the wind say up in the oak-tree ? 

It says little birds cuddle safe in your nest; 

While I rock your cradle, lie tranquil and rest. 

“What does the wind say, kissing the flowers? 

It says give your perfume. I’ll bear it away. 

And all the wide woodland will bless you to-day. 

“What does the wind say chasing the children 
Over the meadows with laughter and glee? 

Come, little people, and frolic with me. 

“What does the wind say when you are sleeping? 

Rest, for the Father is watching you all ; 

Sleep, little children; no harm can befall.” 

Gregory wished there was more to the 
song, and he waited awhile, but she did not 
sing again. It would not do to offend this 
wise person, lest she might shut up her win- 
dow. And thinking of all that he might see, 
he was sure it was going to be very interest- 
ing to look through it often. 

^‘Are you going very soon?’’ he asked 
anxiously. 

"When the stocking is done,” she said. 
""The baby has kicked quite through his last 
pair; there is nothing wrong with his legs. 
Have you made up your mind to go with 
me?” 

What a queer woman! Had she forgot- 
ten already about his weak legs ? 


16 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


'T’d like to/' he said; ‘I'd like seeing 
people close; that is, some one besides old 
John. I'm very tired of him." 

“Then you shall come along. When you 
always stay within you miss many good 
times. But I'll tell you what we might do. 
I have some medicine here that is very good. 
You might come in and take some. Then we 
will start to Mistress Hope's, and if you get 
tired I will carry you on my back." 

“I wonder if I could!" said Gregory. 

“Of course you could," she said briskly. 
“Come," and she reached up her arms to 
him. 

Gregory crawled up on the window ledge 
and she lifted him down. For just a moment 
she held him up close against her, and Greg- 
ory felt a warm, pleasant feeling stealing 
through his thin little body. "Then she put 
him in her own big cushioned chair, and 
gave him a bowl of something that was 
steaming hot. 

“Why, it tastes like broth," he said, “and 
it is very good." 

“That’s the wonderful thing about it," 
said the woman. “You get a great deal of 
medicine, and never a bit of bad taste. I'll 
give you more when we come back." 




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THE MAGIC WINDOW 


17 


''What is your name?’’ asked Gregory, 
looking into her wonderful blue eyes. 

‘'You may call me your fairy godmother,” 
she said. "And indeed, Gregory, I was at 
your christening, and brought you a fairy 
gift" 

"What was it?” he asked. Then he 
frowned. "They have hidden it from me. 
Perhaps they have used it up.” He was 
getting angry. 

"Oh, Gregory, don’t you know more 
about fairy gifts than that? No one can use 
them save the one to whom they belong. 
Did you ever hear the story of the child in 
the woods, who helped an old woman across 
the ferry? She wasn’t a real old woman, 
but a magic person, and she gave him a 
handful of jewels for his reward. He put 
them away in his box, but a thief saw the 
beautiful things, and stole them. The next 
day when the thief went to look at his stolen 
treasure he found nothing but a handful of 
dry leaves. And so it is with all fairy gifts.” 

"Do you know any more stories?” 
breathed Gregory. No one had ever told him 
stories. He had only caught glimpses of 
them through things that he overheard peo- 
ple say, and then he had to make up the 
2 


18 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


endings himself. This was a whole story, 
though very short, but he wondered what 
the boy did when he found the jewels gone. 

‘‘Yes, I know a great many more, and 
I’ll tell you some, sometime. But when we 
go for our walk you will see so many won- 
derful things that you will not care to listen 
to stories.” 

She took Gregory by the hand, and they 
stepped outside the door. She locked it, and 
put the key under the doorstone. Then they 
walked straight into the green world, going 
very slowly because of the weak legs. But 
they had hardly gone a score of steps till 
the castle was out of sight. 

Perhaps the godmother was a magic per- 
son herself. 


IL 

A Gift and a Duty for Gregory. 

When Gregory had walked a little way, 
the godmother took him up on her back and 
carried him. It seemed that they went a 
very long way, and the green trees closed 
in all about them until they seemed walking 
in a magic tent that kept opening just ahead 
of them. And the trees were not unfriendly 
at all. Still, he was glad he was not alone 
with them. Then he almost fell asleep, but 
opened his eyes when he heard a babble of 
voices, and there were the Hope children 
standing about, and gazing at him curiously. ^ 
He did not play that day. He sat in his 
chair and watched them. He thought the 
baby the most interesting of all. He had 
never seen a baby before, and of course he 
couldn’t remember when he was one. After 
awhile the godmother took him by the hand, 
and they started back, and again, when the 
green wall shut them in, she carried him. 
When they reached her cottage, she gave 
him another bowl of the medicine she had 
made, and then helped him back into his 

19 


20 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


own room. He was so tired that he went 
straight to bed and fell asleep. 

When he awoke the next morning Greg- 
ory had a confused feeling that he had had 
a very pleasant dream. After awhile it 
straightened itself in his mind — the window, 
the godmother, the pleasant medicine, and, 
most wonderful, the journey through the 
wood, and the baby. He remembered the 
soft clutch of the little roseleaf hands. He 
wanted to see the baby again. He remem- 
bered that old John had once said he would 
never leave his room, but now he had left 
it, and no one knew, save the godmother. 
He looked up at the window. It was closed. 
His heart throbbed in terror. Was it, after 
all, only a dream, and had he never left the 
dark room? Old John was knocking at the 
door, and Gregory called crossly for him 
to come in. don’t want any breakfast 
nor anything!” said Gregory, “but you may 
help me put on my clothes.” 

He sent John away as soon as he was 
dressed, and the old servant went, shaking 
his head and muttering. He was a careless 
old man, but he was fond of the boy, and 
he thought this meant that his health was 
growing worse. 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


21 


As soon as he was alone, Gregory 
climbed up to the window. The boards 
had been put up very lightly, and they came 
away as soon as he pulled at them. Ah, it 
was no dream! The godmother was sitting 
there, and knitting on another white sock! 

‘^Good morning, Gregory ! Are you ready 
for more medicine?’’ she asked, and her 
bright blue eyes were laughing at him. 

^'Oh, yes, godmother,” he said. ‘T’m 
sure that I had yesterday did me a great deal 
of good. I feel much stronger to-day.” 

‘To be sure it did. Come!” And she 
lifted him down. The medicine that morning 
was different. It was in porridge with cream 
on it. But the godmother assured him that 
it was there, and he ate it with a good appe- 
tite. “Now,” she said, “I shall sit out in the 
arbor and knit, and you shall sit with me, 
and get acquainted with the little people that 
live in the arbor.” 

“Are they fairies?” Gregory asked. 

“Well, most of them are birds and butter- 
flies and the like, but you can not tell what 
fairy things they may know.” 

So they went into the arbor, and Gregory 
watched for the little people. The arbor 
was shady, but flecks of sunshine came 


22 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


through the leaves. At first he did not see 
any little people at all, and godmother had 
to point out the wren sitting so quietly on 
her nest. After that, he watched, and saw 
the father wren come for a little chat. He 
discovered more little people too. A robin 
flew in to see what the two quiet people were 
doing. Bees visited the honeysuckle that 
grew at one end of the arbor. Once a 
splendid yellow butterfly sailed in, then 
seemed suddenly to wonder what had become 
of the sun, and flew out in haste. A lady- 
bird alighted on Gregory’s knee, and ap- 
peared to meditate a moment before going 
on its way. There was a long spray of 
honeysuckle that hung down over Gregory’s 
chair, and waved to and fro in the light 
breeze. Each time it came near him it sent 
out a little breath of perfume. He wondered 
if there were little people hidden in the 
flowers,' and he tried to watch very closely. 
Then the spray seemed covered with tiny 
creatures, but Gregory was asleep and 
dreaming. When he awoke the godmother 
took him for a walk in the woods, and again, 
when they had gone a few steps, the castle 
disappeared, and they were in a strange, new 
world. 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


23 


A few days later they made another visit 
to the Hope family. And this time the chil- 
dren took Gregory out with them. They 
showed him the calf and the dogs and kit- 
tens, and they let him ride on the donkey to 
see the cave. The cave was a fine thing. 
They had made it themselves. Mary, the 
oldest girl, had thought of it, and Wilfred 
had dug it out of the hillside. A vine grew 
down and covered the entrance, so that you 
might hide in there and no one would ever 
think of looking. 

''You have no brothers and sisters to 
play with; what do you do when you are 
at home?’’ asked Joan. 

"Why, don’t you know?” said Mary, be- 
fore Gregory could answer; "he is brother 
to all Silvervale. The godmother told us 
when she first brought him !” 

"How can you be a brother to all Silver- 
vale?” asked Wilfred, wonderingly. "There 
are so many of them. There’s us, and we 
are nine, counting the baby, and there’s 
Granny Thorne, and. Stephen of the Crag, 
and Widow Jane and her twins, and many 
more. What do you do to be brother to 
them ?” 

"Why, I don’t know,” said Gregory, 


24 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


much astonished. ‘'But it must be true if 
the godmother said so. She couldn’t make 
a mistake, for she knows everything.” 

“No, she wouldn’t make a mistake,” said 
Mary, “and I think she just means that you 
are kind to everybody.” 

“But I’m not. I don’t even know who 
they are.” 

“But you are kind to us,” said Joan, “and 
you can be our brother. Only we are not 
at your house to play with you when you 
are lonely.” 

“I wish I had the baby when I am lone- 
ly,” said Gregory, “and I’d like Mary, she 
makes one so comfortable. I like you all,” 
he added, impartially, “but the baby and 
Mary would be the best when one is lonely.” 

“Yes,” agreed the others. 

No one in the Hope family was jealous 
of little Mother Mary. 

When he was ready to go home they 
wanted to give him a gift. They suggested 
the rabbits and kittens, but Mary said she 
thought the bird would be best, because 
Gregory could keep that in his room. 

“Yes,” said the godmother, “the bird 
would be best.” 

They had found the bird in the garden 




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THE MAGIC WINDOW 


25 


one day with a wing hurt so that it could not 
fly. Wilfred made a big cage for it of wil- 
low twigs. If it had been a lark or thrush, 
it might have grieved to death because it 
could not fly in the open air, but being a 
friendly little robin, it took to the cage quite 
readily. Besides, the cage was only to pro- 
tect it from the cat and kittens. 

‘'You’ll take good care of him, won’t 
you?” said Mary, as she put the cage into 
his hand. 

“Oh, yes!” cried Gregory, radiantly. 

He could walk home now, and he carried 
the robin cage himself. When he put a fin- 
ger in between the withes, the robin pecked 
at him in a friendly manner. 

“He shall fly about in my room, for we 
have no cats,” said Gregory. “Perhaps his 
wing will grow strong, but I hope he will 
never want to leave me.” 

When he awoke the next morning, his 
eyes went first to the window where the 
robin sat on the ledge greeting the rising sun. 

For a week he loved his robin, and cared 
for it. Then one day he played from noon 
till dark and forgot to feed it. The god- 
mother looked very grave when she told 
him about it. 


26 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


‘T’m sorry/' said Gregory, penitently. 
^Toor little robin! Did you get very hun- 
gry? I'll give you twice as much." 

"‘You know you promised Mary," said 
the godmother, soberly; ‘'and the little robin 
looks to you for its comfort and happiness, 
and its very life." 

For two weeks Gregory did not forget 
the robin. Then one morning, when the sun 
was shining, and all the trees waving an in- 
vitation to him, Gregory ran out before 
breakfast, and he never came back all day. 
He had a big oatcake in his pocket, and the 
peaches had begun to ripen on the wall. The 
castle servants were used to seeing him run 
out now, and while they wondered at his 
sudden strength, no one was alarmed not to 
find him in his room. He came back when 
the first stars were shining, and he did not 
go through the godmother's house. He ate 
supper in the great hall with the castle 
steward, and then went to his bed. When 
he awoke, he turned toward the window. He 
was not thinking of the robin, but the cage 
hung in the window, and, with a shock, he 
realized that it was empty. He started up, 
and ran to the window. The robin was 
huddled in the bottom of the cage. It was 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


27 


not dead, as he feared for a moment, but its 
head drooped, and its eyes were dull. He 
took the bird tenderly in his hands. Then, 
as the robin did not respond to caresses, he 
flew to the other window. ^^Godmother ! 
Godmother!’’ he cried. ‘'Oh, please look at 
my poor robin I” 

The window opened instantly, and he 
climbed through. 

“It is dying of hunger and thirst!” said 
the godmother, sternly. Together they hur- 
ried to get water and a bit of soft meal. 
The robin drank and brightened. In a few 
moments he took interest enough to eat all 
the meal. Gregory would have given him 
much more, but the godmother said he must 
wait awhile. So Gregory sat before the 
table and now and then tenderly stroked 
the smooth wing. The robin grew better 
quickly. He held up his head and tried a 
feeble chirp. 

“Now, Gregory,” said the godmother, “I 
think it is well enough to leave, and I have 
something to say. Did you feed the bird 
yesterday?” 

“No !” said Gregory, guiltily. 

“Did you feed it the day before?” 

“It had a little left in its dish,” said 


28 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


Gregory. ‘'And I had a great deal to do 
that day.’’ 

The godmother was looking at him with 
stern eyes. “Perhaps,” she said, “it is be- 
cause you were never hungry. And you 
have not kept your promise to Mary. You 
have been unkind and unfaithful. And un- 
less you change you will never see the fairy 
gift.” 

Then she turned her back upon him, and 
went on mixing up the bread in the wooden 
bowl. Gregory stood for awhile in shamed 
silence. He was hurt, and a little angry, and 
much frightened. He was not at all sure 
that he wanted to improve, but he did not 
want to lose the fairy gift. In the muddle 
of feelings, he was sure of but one thing. 
The robin should not go hungry again. He 
picked up his bird tenderly, stepped up on 
the chair under the window and crept back. 


III. 

Gregory Journeys Alone. 

Undoubtedly there was something strange 
about the godmother’s house. When Greg- 
ory went out of the front gate of the castle 
he could not find it at all. He had searched 
for it many times, climbing on the garden 
wall and taking a survey as far as he could 
see. In truth, he had not explored the wood 
very far. When he was alone some of the 
old fear would come upon him, and he kept 
close to the walls. So, as far as he knew, 
one could come to the godmother’s house 
only through the window. For several days 
he did not seek her. But what she had said 
was never absent from his thoughts. Some- 
times he found himself wishing he had not 
forfeited her good opinion. The cottage was 
such a comfortable place. The stories and 
songs were like journeys to wonderland. 
And in the stories all the boys were always 
faithful and brave, and very, very kind. 
Perhaps the godmother had never known 
any other kind of boy until she knew him. 
If only he had not failed! She had often 

29 


30 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


told him he could be like those boys. He 
wondered if he could. He tried to call up 
his pride, and make himself believe he didn’t 
want to see the cross godmother again. But 
he knew it wasn’t true. He was in bed when 
he thought it out, and he dropped a few tears 
on his pillow. Then he thought some one was 
stirring in his room. He raised his head from 
the pillow. A hand touched his forehead so 
tenderly that he was not at all afraid. ‘‘God 
keep thee, beloved child!” whispered a voice, 
“and make thee strong and kind !” 

“Godmother, godmother, I will be!” he 
cried. 

But there was no one there. A white 
moonbeam peeped in to show him the room 
was empty. He knew she had been there. 
How did she come and go? 

When he awoke in the morning his first 
thought was to go to the window in the wall. 
Then he hesitated. Some old story lingered 
in his mind of a knight who proved he had 
repented of a wrong before he sought for- 
giveness. 

He cared for the robin first, for that 
happy bird was never forgotten again. Then 
he went to his own breakfast. Afterward 
he ran toward the door. 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


31 


‘‘Aye, aye!'’ he heard old John say, with 
a foreboding shake of the head. “He grows 
strong apace, but he's none the less willful. 
And he learns naught of the wisdom of 
books. There should be Piasters to teach 
him, and guide him so that the good days 
of his grandfather may come back." 

This was not addressed to Gregory, but 
he could not help hearing. Usually, when 
old John offered advice or criticism, Gregory 
answered him sharply. To-day he gave no 
answer at all, but walked out more slowly. 
A week ago his uncle had suggested having 
a tutor, now that the boy's health was better, 
and Gregory had stormed and wept, and 
declared that he would not do tasks. 

“Oh, as you like!" Uncle Raynauld had 
said, dryly. “The boy is not improved after 
all," he added, turning to the steward. 

Gregory's triumph had had an unpleasant 
taste. He had kept out of the way until his 
uncle had gone. He did not want to see 
again that scornful look in his eyes. 

But as the boy walked into the garden 
this morning, he was putting things together 
in his mind. For the first time he really 
understood that when he was a man he 
would rule the countryside, and that it would 


32 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


make a difference to the people whether he 
was wise and kind, or stupid and selfish. 
He had more than once heard his uncle ex- 
press the opinion that he was a foolish weak- 
ling. Had there been a look almost of 
triumph in that hard face when he had 
declared he would not learn? Doubt dis- 
turbed him. Would he be even happy 
if he went on doing just as his fancy bade 
him? 

^'Anyway,’’ he said, aloud, always feed 
the robin, even if I am very tired or in a 
hurry."’ 

The garden did not prove satisfying. 
He wondered if the godmother were going 
to visit the Hopes soon. Then a bold 
thought came to him. Why should he not 
go to visit them himself? He thought he 
could find the way, though he did not know 
where to find the path from the godmother’s 
door. He remembered that before they 
walked toward the setting sun, and though 
the sun was rising now, he knew where it 
would be when it was setting. A little wave 
of dread of the crying trees came to him. 
But even the trees were not crying this 
morning. They were whispering pleasantly, 
as though they were saying, ‘‘Do come. 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 33 

Gregory; we have some wonderful things to 
show you/’ 

'T’m coming,” said Gregory. 

He ran in to have the cook fill a knapsack 
with food. He prudently considered that he 
might get hungry before he reached the 
Hope home. Then quite stoutly he stepped 
out into the forest. Did he ever wonder 
why no one tried to stop him when he went 
away alone? Why no one inquired how 
he spent his time when he was absent for 
hours at a time? If he thought about it 
at all, he supposed it was because he was 
so important that no one dared dictate to 
him. Old John alone had showed anxiety 
over his absences, and he had always scolded 
old John. 

Gregory hesitated for a moment on the 
edge of the wood, but no longer. ^^Brave 
knights do the things they are afraid to 
do,” said Gregory, ^'and I must be brave and 
strong.” 

He had not walked far when he came 
upon the right path. Then he stepped along 
gladly. At a turning of the path he came 
upon Mary and Wilfred Hope. They greeted 
Gregory joyfully, and begged him to go with 
them. They were going to take care of 


34 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


Widow Jane’s twins while the mother went 
away to help through the harvest work at a 
farm. For this work she would get much 
of her food for winter, so it was necessary 
for her to go. Gregory was glad to go. 

‘'How is the robin, Gregory?” asked 
Mary. 

“It is well, and it is happy as can be. 
When I play in the garden it sits in the 
branches of a tree, and it sings sometimes.” 

How thankful he was that he could say 
it was well and happy. Sometime when they 
could be quite sure he would never forget 
again, he meant to tell Mary about the time 
he did not take care of the robin. 

They soon came to Widow Jane’s cottage 
set back from the road in a little garden. The 
twins were at play on the floor, looking like a 
couple of rosy apples. The widow was already 
gone to her work. The twins greeted the 
newcomers in their own incomprehensible 
language, and were ready to join in any 
amusement. Wilfred took a stout stick and 
began to whittle out some toys. He made a 
marvelous dog and horse. Gregory started 
on a peacock, but his fingers were blistered, 
and he had to leave it; so he wove them little 
chains of green and yellow grasses, and the 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


35 


twins thought these the finest ornaments im- 
aginable. At noon Mary looked on the cup- 
board shelf and shook her head. For the cup- 
board was almost bare. There was one small 
piece of black bread and a little bowl of milk. 
The twins ate it at almost a gulp, and sat 
looking for more. 

‘'We must give them some of ours,’" said 
Mary. 

But when she undid the parcel, Gregory 
wondered at the small parcel that Mother 
Hope had put up for her children. Then a 
brilliant idea came to him. 

“Let’s put all the food together and di- 
vide it up for everybody. I know the twins 
will like my white bread.” 

So they did, and so did Mary and Wil- 
fred; and Gregory, understanding now that 
sometimes these children were hungry, made 
every one take more than he did. It had 
been a large lunch for one boy, but when he 
had eaten his share of it he was still rather 
hungry. 

It was sunset when Widow Jane came 
home. She thought Gregory was just a 
neighbor’s boy, for his clothes were as plain 
as Wilfred’s. So she thanked them all im- 
partially, and gave each one a small yellow 


36 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


apple out of the basket she had brought from 
the farm. Then the three children ran along 
the road that they might get home before 
dark. 

''Eh/’ said old John, as Gregory came 
into the courtyard, "you’ve your doublet torn 
off you. You’ve been climbing trees again, 
and sometime you’ll fall out and break your 
neck.” 

"No, John,” said Gregory, "I tore it on 
the brambles when I was running with Mary 
and Wilfred.” 

Old John blinked after him as if he could 
not quite understand why he had not been 
answered harshly. 

But Gregory was thinking of making his 
peace with the godmother, and he knew that 
she wanted him to speak gently. 

He waited that night till the lamps were 
lighted in the hall. Then he arose to go to 
his room. He did not take a candle, for he 
resolved that he would not be afraid. How 
could he ever fight to defend his people if 
he feared a dark room? He walked along 
the winding passage, and entered his room. 
He felt his way to the window and pulled it 
open. The little room was filled with fire- 
light as if the sun were rising there. The 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


37 


godmother sat in her easy-chair knitting, and 
she said, ''Come in, Gregory; I was waiting 
for yon” 

He went gladly, and sat at her knee 
while she smoothed his hair and told him a 
story. It was of a knight who rode through 
a dark forest, and ever a shining light went 
before to show him the one true path. On 
each side whispering voices called him away, 
promising all sorts of delights. But once 
when he followed a sweet voice and fair 
shape he was entangled in a thorny thicket, 
from which it seemed he never could escape, 
and then the fair shape changed into a 
hideous creature before his eyes. After 
many trials he reached the path again, where 
the small, clear light shone, and after that 
he followed steadfastly, and at length it led 
him into the goodly country he sought. 

"And the light,’' she said, "is love. Love 
for a bird or a person, and at length love 
for truth and justice.” 

"Why,” said Gregory, "that story might 
be about me.” 

"Yes,” said the godmother. 

"I must keep in the right path,” said 
Gregory. 

"Only the light will keep you there.” 


38 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


Then Gregory said good-night and went 
back to bed. 

When Gregory arose in the morning, he 
had so many plans and thoughts that he did 
not know what to do with them. 

'T will go for a walk in the woods,” he 
said, ''and then I will come back and talk 
with the godmother, and after that we shall 
see. 

He took a larger sack of food this time, 
and followed the path that would lead him 
past Widow Jane’s cottage. He found the 
twins at play in the shade of the oak by the 
door and shared his food with them, stealing 
away so quietly that Widow Jane never knew 
he had been there. She wondered greatly, 
though, why the twins wanted so little 
dinner. 

"They shall not go hungry while I have 
plenty,” Gregory reasoned; "because I am a 
brother to all the people in my land.” 

Gregory’s walk that day led him far. He 
ate his dinner alone on a cliff that looked 
over miles of land beneath. He could see 
the towers of his home rising among the 
trees, and the roofs of the cottages here and 
there. Some new things were rising in his 
heart. After a rest, he arose and turned his 



He could see the towers of his home rising among 
the trees. 


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THE MAGIC WINDOW 


39 


steps homeward. He had walked an hour 
before he realized that he was lost. A little 
wave of his old fear swept over him. How 
should he find his way? In all that morning 
he had not seen a person save the little twins. 
He wondered if he would find any one to 
direct him, or if the people at the castle 
would seek him if he did not return. He was 
walking in a broad path, but he was sure he 
had not come that way. There was a fallen 
tree that he had not passed, and a big, curi- 
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itating. Just then a man rounded the turn 
beyond and came into sight. But it was 
such a sinister figure even from that distance 
that Gregory slipped out of the path behind 
a big tree. 


IV. 

A Pursuit and Escape. 

Gregory pressed up close against the tree 
and wondered if the man wouldn’t hear his 
heart beating. He was indeed an evil-looking 
man. He kept glancing right and left as he 
moved silently along. Once his eyes were 
fixed on Gregory’s tree, and the boy expected 
to be dragged forth. But the man went on, 
and when the boy felt it safe to move he 
plunged into the woods and tried to take the 
direction that he thought was toward home. 
He sat down to rest after awhile, and this 
time he took care to keep within a screen 
of bushes. Again the man passed just be- 
fore the bushes that hid the boy. Gregory 
did not know whether he had overtaken the 
man, or whether the man had turned on his 
path and was coming back. Was he seeking 
some one, the boy wondered. Again he felt 
a chill of terror, and he decided that not on 
any account would he go back to the path. 
He arose and took what he thought was a 
different direction from the one the man had 
kept. It was hard traveling, now pushing 

40 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


41 


through the undergrowth, and now making 
wide detours to avoid impenetrable places. 
Of a sudden he stopped with a gasp. He 
had almost run into another person, and at 
first he thought it was the man. But a glance 
showed him that it was a boy somewhat 
older than himself. 

“Are you lost?'’ said Gregory. 

“No," said the boy, smiling, “I could not 
be lost. I know the forest so well." 

The boy had a frank, pleasant face, and 
Gregory felt his heart lightened. 

“Oh, then, will you please show me the 
way to the castle?" he asked. 

“Yes," said the boy. “Do you live at 
the castle?" 

“Yes," answered Gregory. 

“The path is just over here," said the 
boy. 

“Oh, let us not go on the path," said 
Gregory. 

Then he told of the man he had seen. 

“He looks very fierce, and he had a great 
club in his hand and a long knife in his belt," 
finished Gregory. 

“We will not take the path if he is in the 
woods," said the boy, quite bravely. “I know 
another way, but it will take us longer." 


42 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


They started through the forest. When- 
ever the walking would allow conversation, 
Gregory asked questions. 

''Why do you know the woods so well?'’ 
he asked. 

"Because I used to help the chief wood- 
man. It was my work to walk about and 
see that no one was using the wood unlaw- 
fully." 

"Why do you not help him now ?" 

"Because an enemy brought a false accu- 
sation against me." 

"What was the accusation?" 

"Such matters are not for idle talk 
among young lads," was the stern reply. 

Then Gregory blushed to think he had 
appeared so curious. This big, capable boy 
thought he was some farmer's son. 

"I would like to know your name," he 
said, quite humbly. 

"I am Stephen of the Crag." 

"Now," said Gregory to himself, "I shall 
find out all about it from the steward to- 
night." 

The boys went on. A little later Stephen 
stopped and raised his hand for silence. 
Gregory stood motionless. He could smell 
smoke on the little breeze that blew toward 



A little later Stephen stopped and raised his hand for 
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THE MAGIC WINDOW 


43 


them, and a little later he smelled cooking 
meat. He looked his question at his com- 
panion. Stephen stole a few steps forward 
and peeped through the bushes. Then he 
beckoned Gregory to advance. Gregory, 
peeping through, saw the same man who 
had twice crossed his path, sitting before a 
fire roasting a piece of meat on a stick. A 
deer, partly cut up, lay behind him. Gregory 
needed no words to explain the scene. It 
was unlawful in those days to kill deer on 
another man's land. Usually only desperate 
men made a practice of doing it. Gregory felt 
still more afraid of the man. Neither boy 
spoke until the fire was left far behind them. 

‘T fear," said Stephen, ‘That you will be 
greatly wearied. We are taking a long way 
to the castle. But it appears that yonder 
Black Duguld is in every path." 

“What will be done with the man if he 
is found?" asked Gregory. 

“Nothing," said Stephen, “for he is a 
friend of the steward." 

“The steward, too, perchance deals un- 
justly?" suggested Gregory. 

“It is strange, since you dwell near the 
castle, that you hear no talk of his hard 
dealings." 


44 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


They saw the sunset over the battlements 
when they stood on the last height above 
the castle. They had come by a way that 
Gregory did not know, and he saw now that 
they had journeyed half-way around the 
castle grounds, and were approaching from 
the east side, instead of the north. He 
paused for a moment to look at the beautiful 
scene, and some words of the godmother’s 
songs floated into his mind. 

‘'God made the world very fair,” he said, 
reverently. 

“Aye!” said Stephen; “it is a pity that 
there be men who would make it foul. But 
come,” he went on, “we should hasten. Our 
way lies through yonder pass, and I would 
get through before dark.” 

They started down between two steep 
banks. But they had gone only a few steps 
when they came face to face with Black 
Duguld. The man barred the way, holding 
his club threateningly. There was no re- 
treat. He could have easily caught them if 
they had tried to climb the steep hill behind 
them. 

“Run when I speak to him,” whispered 
Stephen, advancing boldly. 

Gregory, whose knees were trembling, 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


45 


caught some of his spirit. He held his head 
up, and advanced firmly. Black Duguld 
was evidently unprepared for this. He had 
expected the boys to run when they met 
him. He weighed the stick in his hand uncer- 
tainly. 

'‘Did you see the keeper in the woods but 
now?’’ said Stephen, stepping up close to 
him, and at the same time giving Gregory a 
little push. 

“Nay,” growled Duguld. Then, with a 
fierce shout, he sprang after Gregory, who 
was running down the path as if his feet 
were winged. Stephen ran, too, and where 
the path widened a few yards farther on, he 
tried to pass Duguld and received a glancing 
blow of the club. At the same moment 
Duguld tripped over a rock, and when he 
recovered himself both boys were out in the 
open field that adjoined the castle. Old John 
was watching at the gate, and the outlaw 
turned back into the wood. 

“They told me,” he muttered, “that the 
boy was almost a cripple, and wanted wit. 
But he runs like a deer, and was cunning 
enough to fool me.” 

When they saw that they were not pur- 
sued, the boys stopped running. Gregory 


46 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


looked at Stephen and saw the blood trick- 
ling from a cut in his head. 

''Good Stephen/' he said, "are you badly 
hurt?" 

"No," said Stephen, "but since your way 
is clear now, I will go to my mother and 
have her bind it up. And do not wander in 
the woods again if Black Duguld is angry 
with you." 

"Stephen, Fll not forget," he said ear- 
nestly. "I will see you again. But go now, 
quickly, and have the cut bound up." 

Old John came out to meet Gregory. 

"Why did you run as though you were 
pursued?" he asked. 

"I was pursued," said Gregory, gravely. 
"I will not go to the woods alone again." 

"Then God be thanked that you have at 
length learned wisdom. When you stay at 
the castle I can watch over your safety." 

"Why should you care to watch?" asked 
Gregory. 

He was very weary, and sore at heart. 
He had not known before that any one 
hated him. 

"Because," said John, "when your grand- 
mother brought you here from a foreign 
land, where both of your parents had died. 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


47 


she placed you in my arms, and bade me 
take care of you. Fve tried to keep my 
trust.’’ 

‘'You have kept it,” said Gregory. “Where 
is my grandmother now?” 

“No one knows,” said John. “She was 
a very great lady, like a queen, and I think 
she went back to her own people. Your kin 
of this land would not let her stay here.” 

“I shall send for her,” said Gregory. “I 
am no longer a baby. If she is a great lady, 
she can teach me things.” 

Gregory was so tired that he went 
straight to bed after he had eaten his even- 
ing meal. His dreams were troubled, how- 
ever. Black Duguld was pursuing him 
through never-ending rooms. His friends 
were trying to help him escape. Now it was 
Mary Hope, now the godmother, now old 
John, and now Stephen of the Crag. 

“I am not afraid of you,” he said defi- 
antly when a hand at length grasped his 
shoulder. 

But the hand kept shaking, and he opened 
sleepy eyes to find his room full of morning 
sunshine. 

“Gregory, oh, Gregory, get up, my child. 
This is the day you must prove yourself a 


48 THE MAGIC WINDOW 

man. If you fail to-day, you fail indeed.’’ 

It was the godmother’s hand on his 
shoulder, and the face that leaned over him 
was filled with anxiety. 

‘What is the matter ?” he asked. “Is any 
one in danger?” and his eyes strayed to the 
robin’s cage. 

The robin was all right, but the god- 
mother said, “Yes, your friends are in dan- 
ger.” 


V. 

Gregory Finds the Fairy Gift. 

Gregory sat up, quite awake now. 

^'What shall I do?’’ he asked. 

‘'Dress first, and then eat your porridge, 
and I will tell you.” 

Gregory put on his clothes in haste, and 
washed his face and hands. The godmother 
had a bowl of steaming porridge ready, and 
he ate it with a good appetite, though he 
watched her face anxiously. 

“Gregory,” she said, when he had eaten, 
“you know the lord of this land is also the 
judge, and offenders are brought before him 
for trial. While you are a child your uncle 
rules in your stead. He is a just man, but 
far too busy to care for this, in addition to 
his own lands. So he has left the steward 
to rule here in his place. But the steward 
is not a just man. And even a child with 
gentleness in his heart may do better than a 
hard man. You are too young to take the 
burdens upon you, but perhaps you can find 
a wiser man for steward, and tell your uncle 
of your wish. In the meantime, know that 

49 


50 THE MAGIC WINDOW 

when you speak, your word is law. I think 
you may go to the judgment-hall this morn- 
ing. It is your place.'’ 

'What must I do?" he asked. 

'What your heart bids you," she sighed. 

"Will you come too?" 

"Yes. But I can not guide you." 

"I will feed the robin, and then I am 
ready." 

Out through the great hall they went, 
and into a room at one end of which a num- 
ber of people were gathered. So quietly did 
they slip in at a door behind the judge's table 
that they were not noticed. Then, sitting 
very still on his bench, Gregory looked 
around. The steward sat in the judge's 
chair. Most of the servants, and many of 
the country people, were there. Then Greg- 
ory gave a start. It was Stephen of the 
Crag who stood with bound hands before 
the judge. In a moment Gregory's startled 
eyes saw something else. It was Black Du- 
guld who arose to testify against him. 
Gregory did not move at all as he listened to 
the story. Why, they were accusing Stephen 
of killing deer in the woods! When that 
story was done, Stephen's parents pleaded 
for him, telling how good and faithful he 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


51 


was, and Mistress Hope was there to tell 
what a good son Stephen was, and that his 
word was to be trusted in any case. And 
Stephen himself added his protest. 

“See!'' said Black Duguld, pointing to 
Stephen's wounded head, “he got that when 
I drove him from the woods." 

“What will they do with him?" whis- 
pered Gregory. 

“They will hang him," said the god- 
mother. “For they say he has done this 
many times." 

Gregory had been afraid. He was only 
a boy, and it was hard to believe these men 
would listen to him. Besides, there was 
Duguld with his club. But suddenly his fear 
was gone. He stood up and walked to the 
table, saying clearly, “If you please, Mr. 
Steward, I will take my chair of justice 
to-day." 

In very surprise the evil-browed steward 
arose and made way for him. Gregory was 
glad to sit down in the great chair, so they 
should not see how his legs were trembling. 
He looked down at the table. He had not 
an idea what to do. After awhile he looked 
up and around the room. What a change 
there was in the faces ! Mistress Hope's face 


52 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


was beaming like sunshine. Tears were run- 
ning down old John’s face, and Stephen’s 
father and mother were looking about in 
bewilderment. He looked at Stephen, who 
was staring with such a puzzled face that 
Gregory laughed. 

Then, '‘Where is that bad man?” said 
the young judge. 

But the bad man was gone, and the 
steward was gone, and neither of them was 
ever seen in those parts again. 

“Please, John, take the cords off Ste- 
phen’s hands. He is a good boy, and he 
brought me home yesterday, and saved me 
from Black Duguld. And, Stephen, you are 
to be a woodman again.” 

Then he looked about, wondering what 
ought to come next. 

“I think I’d like you for steward, John, 
and don’t you think these people might stay 
for dinner ?” 

It was a very astonishing thing, for that 
was the conclusion of the court proceed- 
ings. 

The godmother tried to slip away while 
the people were crowding around Gregory. 
But he ran after her, and brought her back. 
Old John had hurried away to give orders 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


53 


for the dinner. And the other servants were 
flying about, so Gregory did not see that 
the godmother was strange to all the castle 
people. The country people knew her, how- 
ever, as their kind neighbor. Mistress Con- 
stance. 

Presently old John came to summon 
them to dinner. Gregory passed many a 
smiling face on his way to the tables in the 
great hall. As he remembered dreary, cheer- 
less days, it seemed to him that his castle 
was like some of which he had read where a 
spell was dissolved, and straightway all the 
enchanted men and women began to sing for 
joy. It was indeed more like that than he 
knew. For there had been a spell on his 
castle, a spell of hatred and unkindness, and 
love had dissolved the spell and set all the 
gladness in their hearts free. Up to the 
head of the table he went, holding the god- 
mother’s hand. And old John, who was 
bowing like a smiling mandarin, was sud- 
denly stiffened with new astonishment. 

''Ah, Lady Constance,” he cried, "thank 
God you are here at a time when our young 
lord needs you so sorely. But, lad, how did 
you find her so quickly?” 

"It’s the godmother,” explained Gregory. 


54 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


‘'She made me well, and taught me many 
things/’ 

‘Tt is thy lady grandmother !” cried John. 
‘Tt is she who brought you here.” 

‘Tt is indeed true!” said the godmother. 
‘T stayed to watch over you when they 
would have sent me away. I had to bring 
you the fairy gift, you know.” 

Gregory didn’t take any time to think it 

out. 

“I love you enough for godmother and 
grandmother, too,” he said. 

What with their wonder and joy, it was 
a miracle any one ate any dinner that day. 
But, when they arose, the table showed they 
had dined after all. Then the people went 
home to spread the tale that the young lord 
had taken things into his own hands, and 
that gentle Lady Constance, who was none 
other than their Neighbor Constance, was 
there to guide him. 

Gregory took a few minutes to talk so- 
berly with the godmother and John that 
afternoon. 

There was a letter to be written to the 
uncle telling of the changes that had taken 
place at the castle, and a trusty man was 
selected to carry it. 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


55 


don’t know how to do things,” said 
Gregory, “but I shall have teachers now, 
and the godmother will teach me to be good 
and brave. I want my lands taken good care 
of, and no one must be unkindly treated. 
The little twins were hungry the other day. 
And with so much room to grow things, no 
one must go hungry here. Will you attend 
to it, John?” 

“Yes, my lord, all that I will manage 
gladly.” 

“And now,” said Gregory, “I think I 
will go to the garden to play, and to-morrow, 
please, godmother, can we go to the Hopes? 
I want to take the robin, and show Mary 
that he is as well as ever.” 

“Yes,” said the godmother, “I think we 
shall go.” 

She, at least, was glad to have Gregory 
a boy for awhile yet. 

It was not until he was in bed that night 
that Gregory thought of another thing. 

He jumped out and ran to the window in 
the wall. “Godmother,” he called. She 
looked up from her knitting with a smile. 
“You said you had to bring the fairy gift. 
When can I see it?” 

“Alas! dear boy,” said the godmother. 


56 


THE MAGIC WINDOW 


one can put it in your hand and say, 
This is the fairy gift/ It is a far finer 
thing than that. It is the thing that set the 
enchanted palace free, that guided the knight 
out of the desert darkness into the right 
path. But you shall have it, I am sure, now, 
for I saw you gain some of it to-day.” 

^'Oh !” said Gregory, hanging on the win- 
dow. ‘^Does it mean having people like 
you?” 

He had heard so many of the god- 
mother’s stories that he was learning to 
know what they meant now. 

‘Tt is partly that, and partly something 
better than that.” 

wonder if it’s liking people and birds 
and the woods,” guessed Gregory. 

^Tes,” she said, ^'and I think you have 
all of it right now.” 

'That is a good thing,” he said, "and I 
shouldn’t have learned it if you had not 
come. I wish it were to-morrow, and time 
to go to Mary Hope’s.” 


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